Police Wheel Lock on Illegally Parked Cars

Bali Police Promise that 'Get Tough' Policy on Errant Parkers will Be Continued and Expanded in Months Ahead.

(7/26/2008) Bali police authorities are cracking down on illegal parking violators as evidenced by a special operation carried out by the Provincial Department of Transportation on Monday, July 22, 2008.

According to Radar Bali, traffic authorities, comprised of transportation officers and traffic police, put locks on the tires of illegally parked cars along the entire length of Jalan Gatot Subroto up to and including the Tohpati intersection. In this initial testing of a new "get tough" policy, four vehicles had their wheels locked.

According to a traffic official, the drivers of the "locked" cars are given one hour to show up, after which they will be issued a ticket before the "wheel lock" is removed. Those vehicles sitting with the wheel lock in place for more than one hour with no owner showing up for ticketing will be towed away by the police.

During the first day's trial run only one car from among 4 car having their tires locked ended up being towed away to the police traffic pound.

A traffic authority spokesman told the press that the program will now be continued, providing a "shock therapy" to those who disregard parking rules. He also warned that the "tire locks" would be used on a whole range of busy streets in South Bali over the coming weeks.